Demonstration case with eccentric tilt display panel

ABSTRACT

A demonstration case having an eccentric tilt panel display assembly is provided for safely securing, transporting, and demonstrating industrial products or equipment. The demonstration case may reduce damage to display products that may occur from dropping the demonstration case or from joggling of display products during transport. The demonstration case may also help stably maintain the display product in a display or demonstration mode.

PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/691,759 filed on Aug. 21, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to demonstration cases used for transporting and demonstrating specialized industrial products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a travel case used for transporting and demonstrating a burner management system.

BACKGROUND

Travel cases are commonly used for transporting and storing apparel and other personal items. Travel cases have also been used for transporting and storing portable electronic work stations, such as a portable computer work station or computer field kits.

Travel cases have also been used by businesses and sales persons for transporting items or products to be demonstrated to potential customers or to consumers. Such travel cases have often used brackets, fixed levers or basic barrel or folding arm hinges to open and close the travel case.

In the past, some travel cases have included a display assembly for displaying a product. A display assembly may have included an item to be displayed and basic hinges or fixed levers for securing the product to the travel case so that the display product could be stored in the travel case and then be folded out after the travel case was opened. In other instances, a manual lift with a stand has been used in a travel case for displaying an item or product.

One concern when displaying or demonstrating certain specialized products, such as heavy industrial equipment or components, is how to keep the product stable or in a fixed position while conducting a demonstration. Another concern is protecting the display product from damage during storage and transportation that can be caused from dropping the travel case or joggling the product inside the case—especially if the display product is costly or fragile. Protecting a display item can be particularly difficult when the item is heavy or comprised of a number of complex parts.

Various attempts have been used in the past to address such concerns. For example, some travel cases in the past have included a display assembly comprising a manual lift with a stand that could be used to display a product. Also, some travel cases in the past have included foam blocks in the travel case to provide shock resistance to protect against impact to display items stored in the travel case. Securing and pivoting of display assemblies was sometimes accomplished using brackets, fixed levers or basic barrel or folding arm hinges.

However, there are a number of problems and disadvantages to travel cases that have been used in the past for storing, transporting, or demonstrating products. For example, heavy specialized industrial products, such as burner management systems, are more difficult to portably secure in a travel case for demonstration purposes. Preventing such specialized display products from moving, bouncing, or being damaged while in transit poses challenges and could require additional measures to protect them, such as specially fitted foam blocks or securing straps. Such additional protection measures may increase the cost and personnel time required to safely store and transport the display products.

Also, industrial products such as burner management systems may be more difficult to configure for demonstration purposes. Likewise, disassembling and repacking industrial products such as a burner management system after conducting a demonstration can be time intensive and increases the risk of damage to the product each time it is disassembled and reassembled.

Thus it is desirable to have a travel case for demonstrating specialized industrial products such as burner management systems which allows the product to be portably stored, transported, and demonstrated without requiring the display product to be assembled and disassembled before and after each demonstration respectively. It is also desirable to have a travel case for demonstrating specialized industrial products that allows for the stable and secure storage, transport, and display of the display product without requiring substantial time to safely setup or secure the display product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved travel case for display and demonstration of a product, such as industrial equipment. It is another object of the present invention to provide for an improved product display assembly for use in a demonstration case.

According to one aspect of the invention, a travel case is provided having a display assembly disposed therein, said display assembly comprising a display product configured on a display panel. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display product is a burner management system. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the burner management system is configured for demonstration purposes. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a simulation switch box is provided to provide signals to a burner management system control box simulating conditions which may occur in a combustion system at an oil and gas well site.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the travel case has wheels and an extendable handle, so as to be easily transported.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the display assembly includes a tilt panel or a display unit that is secured along a first side to the inside of a travel case using one or more hinges. The one or more hinges for securing the first side of the tilt piano or display unit may comprise one or more piano hinges.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display panel is secured to the travel case using at least two different types of hinges. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least one of the hinges is an eccentrically actuated hinge. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the tilt panel or display unit may be a hideaway eccentric tilt panel or hide away eccentric display unit. The tilt panel or display unit may be bi-stable and configured with a toggle point so that the tilt panel or display unit is stable in both the closed or “folded” position and in the open or “display” position.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the eccentrically actuated hinge provides inertia that helps prevent the display assembly from moving in the travel case during transport so that the display assembly remains in the closed or “folded” position. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the eccentric hinge allows the unit to be stabilized and maintained in the “demonstration” or “display” position after it is pulled up into the demonstration or display position.

According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the hinges is configured with a pneumatic lift support. According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the hinges is configured with a hydraulic lift support. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the pneumatic lift support is a gas-assist, a gas charged lift support, or a gas spring.

These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a demonstration case as shown and described in the following figures and related description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a demonstration case in accordance with the present invention with the travel case lid in the open position and the eccentric tilt panel in the “closed” or “folded” position;

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a demonstration case in accordance with the present invention with the travel case lid in the open position and the eccentric tilt panel in the “open” or “display” position;

FIG. 3 shows a cutaway side view of a demonstration case in accordance with the present invention showing the travel case in the “open” position and showing the eccentric tilt panel in both the “closed” position and in the “open” position;

FIG. 4 shows a top perspective view of a demonstration case including a product display assembly in accordance with the present invention having the travel case lid in the “open” position and the eccentric display unit in the “closed” or “folded” position;

FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of a demonstration case including a product display assembly in accordance with the present invention having the eccentric display unit in the “open” or “display” position and burner management system configured in a demonstration mode; and

FIG. 6 shows a rear side-angle perspective view of a demonstration case including a product display assembly in accordance with the present invention having the eccentric display unit in the “open” or “display” position and a burner management system configured in a demonstration mode.

It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 3, a top perspective view, a front perspective view and a side cutaway view of a demonstration case 10 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention are respectively shown. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the demonstration case 10 may be comprised of a travel case 12 and a product display panel 14. The travel case 12 should be durable and made of a sturdy material, such as a polymer or composite material or of aluminum or a metal alloy that may be waterproof, flame retardant, or tear-resistant. The travel case may also be made of any other material commonly used by those skilled in the art for making durable travel cases.

The travel case 12 may include a lid 13 also made of a durable material in which foam padding 15, such as an egg carton shaped foam padding, may be disposed. The foam padding 15 may provide shock resistance to assist in protecting display products or equipment stored or transported in the demonstration case 10. The foam padding 15 may also be disposed on one or more of the other interior sides of the travel case 12 to help protect the display panel 14 and any display product configured thereon and being stored or transported.

The travel case 12 may also have an extendible handle for carrying or towing the demonstration case. The travel case may also have one or more wheels or rollers to facilitate towing the demonstration case when transporting a display product.

The display panel 14 may be made of a light weight but sturdy material, such as a composite or a metal, such as aluminum or metal alloy, which may provide strong support for heavy industrial products being demonstrated or displayed on the display panel 14. The display panel 14 may also be configured for securing or mounting a display product thereon. The display product may be assembled on or mounted to the display panel 14 for demonstration purposes.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the display panel 14 may be pivotally connected at a first side of the display panel 14 to at least one interior side of the travel case 12 using a hinge 18. Preferably, the hinge 18 connecting the front side of the display panel 14 to the travel case is a piano hinge, which may provide strong support for heavy industrial products being displayed on the product display panel 14. If desired, more than one hinge 18 may be used for securing the first side of the product display panel 14 to the travel case 12.

The display panel 14 may also be bi-stably configured with one or more gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b eccentrically disposed at a first end to the product display panel 14 using one or more eccentrically actuated hinges 16 a, 16 b with the gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b being pivotally disposed at a second end to the travel case 12 using one or more pivot hinges 20 a, 20 b.

As shown in FIG. 3, inertia from the eccentrically actuated hinges 16 a, 16 b and the gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b provides inertia that may stably maintain the display panel 14 in one of two positions on either side of a toggle point so that the display panel 14 is stable in both the closed or “folded” position and in the open or “display” position.

The inertia from the eccentrically actuated hinges 16 a, 16 b and the gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b may also help prevent the display panel and any display product configured thereon from moving in the demonstration case 10 during transport so that the display panel 14 remains in the closed or “folded” position. The inertia from the eccentrically actuated hinges 16 a, 16 b and the gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b also helps support the display panel when it is configure with a display product to stably be maintained in the “demonstration” or “display” position.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 through 6, a top perspective view, a front perspective view, and a rear side-angle view of a demonstration case 10 having a product display assembly 24 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention are respectively shown. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the product display assembly 24 may be comprised of a burner management demonstration system mounted to or configured on a product display panel 14 for the purpose of providing demonstrations of the burner management system. The burner management demonstration system may include a burner management system control box 26 for controlling at least one element of combustion, a simulation switch box 28, a valve train, a combustion assembly, and one or more sensors for measuring various combustion elements.

The valve train may comprise a high flow regulator and pressure gauge 44, a low flow regulator and pressure gauge 46, a pilot regulator and pressure gauge 48, a high flow solenoid control valve 50, a low flow solenoid control valve 52, and a pilot solenoid control valve 54 all connected using fuel conduits.

The combustion assembly may comprise a mixer 58, a fuel nipple pipe 60, a pilot or burner nozzle 62, and a flame ignition electrode 56 and one or more flame sensor electrodes 64. Gas or other fuel for combustion may be stored in a fuel tank 66, such as a propane tank. The fuel tank 66 may be connected to a first end of the valve train using a fuel conduit such as rubber tubing; and, the mixer 58 end of the combustion assembly may be connected to a second end of the valve train. Fuel can then be channeled from the fuel tank 66 through the valve train and then to the burner assembly for delivery of fuel to the burner to provide fuel for combustion. Gas flow and combustion may be controlled by the combustion management control box 26.

The combustion assembly unit may be folded and stored behind the product display assembly 24 and unfolded and extended when the product display assembly 24 is in the open and full demonstration position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Switches on the simulation switch box 28 may be used to initiate signals that are sent to the burner management system control box 26 simulating various conditions which can occur in a burner management system at an oil and gas well site. The simulation switches on the simulation switch box 28 may include a process temperature slide switch 30, an auxiliary temperature slide switch 32, a flame simulation switch 34, a low pressure simulation switch 36, a high pressure simulations switch 38, an emergency shutdown (ESD) simulation switch 40, and a start switch 42.

The start switch 42 may be used to power on the burner management demonstration system. The means for delivering power to the burner management system control box 26 and the simulation switch box 28 may include a power cord with a standard AC plug, such as a standard male electrical plug for connecting with a standard 110 volt female electrical socket. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the electrical cord and plug may be stored behind the product display assembly 24 in a power cord retractor 68 for dispensing and rewinding the electrical cord. The power cord retractor 68 may be a spring powered power cord retractor or an automatic retractor.

Of course, one may use any other means commonly used by those skilled in the art for delivering power from a power source to an electrically operated device.

When the start switch 42 is in the “on” position and the power is on, the switches on the simulated switch box 28 may be used to send signals to the burner management system control box 23 simulating various onsite conditions. Depending on the conditions simulated, the burner management system control box 23 may then send responsive signals to various components of the burner management demonstration system, such as, for example, to solenoid control valves for adjusting gas flow in response to the simulated conditions.

As with the display panel 14, the product display assembly 24 is bi-stable when the burner management demonstration system is configured therewith. Pressure from the one or more gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b help maintain the product display assembly 24 in the closed position once it has been tilted into the travel case, helping to hold the product display assembly 24 down. Pivot hinges 20 a, 20 b connected to the gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b may facilitate opening and closing of the product display assembly 24.

The eccentrically actuated hinges 16 a, 16 b provide an eccentric arc that provides outward pressure from the gas charged lift supports 22 a, 22 b when the product display assembly 24 is in the closed position to keep the product display assembly 24 down unless pressure is applied to overcome the eccentric arc. When such pressure is applied and the apex of the eccentric arc is overcome, the outward pressure from the gas charged lift support 22 a, 22 b biases the product display assembly 24 along the eccentric arc into the “open” position.

The piano hinge 18 facilitates folding of product display assembly 24 into and out of the travel case 12. Thus, a user may move the product display assembly 24 from the closed to the open position by pulling up on the product display assembly 24, including the burner management demonstration system, to overcome the initial inertia of the eccentric hinge in the “folded” or closed position. After the inertia is overcome, the product display assembly 24, including the burner management demonstration system, should easily move to the “display” or demonstration position. Similarly, a user may bias the product display assembly 24 into the closed position by folding the product display assembly 24 down until the initial inertia from the eccentric arc is overcome and upon which the eccentric forces will help hold the product display assembly 24 in the closed or storing position.

There is thus disclosed an improved demonstration travel case having an eccentric tilt display panel. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A demonstration case comprising: a travel case; a product display panel having a first side, wherein said first side is pivotally disposed to a first interior side of said travel case; a first eccentrically actuated hinge disposed on a second side of the product display panel; and a first lift support having a first end attached to the first eccentrically actuated hinge and having a second end pivotally disposed to a second interior side of said travel case wherein the position of the product display panel may be eccentrically maintained.
 2. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the product display panel is pivotally disposed to the first interior side of the travel case using a hinge.
 3. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the product display panel is pivotally disposed to the travel case using a piano hinge.
 4. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the lift support is a gas charged lift support.
 5. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the lift support is a hydraulic lift support.
 6. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the lift support is a gas spring.
 7. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the lift support is pivotally disposed to the second interior side of the travel case using a pivot hinge.
 8. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the travel case has one or more wheels disposed on an outside section of the travel case.
 9. The demonstration case of claim 8, wherein the travel case has an extendible tow handle.
 10. The demonstration case of claim 1, wherein the travel case has foam disposed on at least one interior side of the travel case.
 11. The demonstration case of claim 10, wherein the foam disposed on the at least one interior said of the travel case is egg carton shaped.
 12. The demonstration case of claim 1 wherein the product display panel has a burner management system configured thereon.
 13. The demonstration case of claim 12, wherein the burner management system comprises: a burner; a flame initiation source disposed adjacent to the burner for initiating combustion; a valve for engaging a fuel source connectable to at least one conduit for delivery of fuel to the burner; a control box for controlling at least one element of combustion; at least one sensor for measuring at least one element of combustion; and a power source for delivering power to the control box.
 14. The demonstration case of claim 13, wherein the flame initiation source is a pilot.
 15. The demonstration case of claim 13, wherein the flame initiation source is a flame ignition electrode.
 16. The demonstration case of claim 12 further comprising a simulation switch box operably connected to the burner management system.
 17. A demonstration case comprising: a travel case; a product display panel having a first side, wherein said first side is pivotally disposed to a first interior side of said travel case; a first eccentrically actuated hinge disposed on a second side of the product display panel; a first lift support having a first end attached to the first eccentrically actuated hinge and having a second end pivotally disposed to a second interior side of said travel case; a second eccentrically actuated hinge disposed on a third side of the product display panel; and a second lift support having a first end attached to the second eccentrically actuated hinge and having a second end pivotally disposed to a third interior side of said travel case; wherein the position of the product display panel may be eccentrically maintained in either an opened or closed position.
 18. A tilt panel product display assembly comprising: a product display panel having a burner management system configured thereon; a first eccentrically actuated hinge disposed on a first lateral side of the product display panel; a first lift support having a first end attached to the first eccentrically actuated hinge; a second eccentrically actuated hinge disposed on a second lateral side of the product display panel; and a second lift support having a first end attached to the second eccentrically actuated hinge; wherein the display panel and the lift supports are configured for pivotally attaching to a surface.
 19. The tilt panel product display assembly of claim 18, wherein the burner management system comprises: a burner; a flame initiation source adjacent to the burner for initiating combustion; a valve for engaging a fuel source connectable to at least one conduit for delivery of fuel to the burner; a control box for controlling at least one element of combustion; at least one sensor for measuring at least one element of combustion; and a power source for delivering power to the control box.
 20. The tilt panel display assembly of claim 19, further comprising a simulation switch box operably connected to the burner management system. 